View Full Version : What is the BEST Cordless RadarDetector
MkLoe
09-22-2006, 07:12 PM
I really need a nice cordless radar detector. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance. Also, what is the difference between Cord and Cordless? (beside's one has a cord and one doesn't) Do they perform the same?
Road Warrior
09-22-2006, 07:28 PM
I used my S2 (that's Escort Solo S2) for over a year until 3 weeks ago when I bought the STI... VERY, VERY HAPPY WITH THE S2, if you want cordless, I urge you to get the S2... and get rechargeable batteries, 2 will last you for up to 6-8 hrs (depends how many falses you get, the alerts and/or the display light all use the batteries)...
Please find my post in this very section of the forum, called something like "8,000-mile road trip to Texas and Florida", I think I posted it after July 20 this year, I used the S2 in that trip and it saved me from at least 6 speeding tickets...
Best of luck and if you want cordless GO WITH THE S2 :wink:
leo68
09-22-2006, 07:35 PM
I really need a nice cordless radar detector. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance. Also, what is the difference between Cord and Cordless? (beside's one has a cord and one doesn't) Do they perform the same?
Cordless radar detector to save energy turn on/ off so you never know when it is parked. If I ever needed one would be the Escort S2 but you don't have the range like the Escort 8500 X50 or Bel RX65. Ask Radar Roy about cordless radar detectors, there maybe test information at radarbusters.com?
SmaartAasSaabr
09-22-2006, 07:36 PM
Best bang-for-buck or best bar none? Bar none I'd say the S2. For the money I might look at a Whistler.
Generally you give up a lot of response time with a cordless, except the Whistler units. To save battery power most cordless units "sleep" about 700 ms every second. 700 ms of missed alert time seems minimal, but it reduces the sensitivity of the unit.
A corded unit generally performs better (a cheaper Escort X50 will definately outperform the S2) and the cord is usually a non issue (you can easily hard wire the cord into the car's electrical system, and have no problems with dangling cords or dead batteries). The only real reason I would go cordless is if you use multiple cars (if you have 2 cars in the household, no big deal [hardwire both] but let's say you do a lot of rentals, or at work have to pick from a fleet) and you really can't afford to do anything with the normal cigarette lighter cord.
The normal cord can be adapted easily several ways, example if the cig socket is down on the console but you want to mount the unit up near the headliner, just get a flat telephone extension cord, plug one end into the RD, another into the cord, and you can tuck this easily along the headliner and the trim along the A-pillar for example. Easy to put in place and you can remove it fairly quickly. (good for like a rental car)
Cordless is pretty handy if you are on a motorcycle or something like that. The Bel 946 used to (still?) came with a neat little "deflector" that fit into the top, so you could put it in a shirt pocket and recieve alerts...
MkLoe
09-22-2006, 07:37 PM
How is the Beltronic 795? and is it worth the money to upgrade to a 945? I am thinking I could just rig some batteries to it to make it corrless.
SmaartAasSaabr
09-22-2006, 07:40 PM
795 seems to be sometimes totally awesome and sometimes highly crappy. It's no RX65 for sure. 945 is probably similar though hopefully less variable.
A problem with batteries is the voltage can vary quite a bit, which could possibly affect the performance. A corded detector will usually get a pretty solid 13,8 V.
MkLoe
09-22-2006, 07:48 PM
well isn't the detector 12V so All I need to do is hook 12V up to it. right?
SmaartAasSaabr
09-22-2006, 08:00 PM
It's probably more like 5v. But the input is for 12v, but generally it recieves 13,8 or something over 12 but under 14. I don't know what the real effect would be...
Orbital75
09-23-2006, 01:21 AM
Escort Solo 2........ all the way... If you can go cored, Range and sensitivity are much greater....
MkLoe
09-23-2006, 06:35 PM
is it worth the $120 to get a Escort Solo 2 or just stay with the $80 and get the 1788 whistler
leo68
09-23-2006, 06:45 PM
is it worth the $120 to get a Escort Solo 2 or just stay with the $80 and get the 1788 whistler.
Yow want the newer Escort Solo 2 not the older model. See radarbusters.com for image
Switchback
09-23-2006, 07:29 PM
I need to ask;
Why does it need to be cordless?
What is this special application where you can't run it off the cars electrical system?
Corded will beat cordless in every aspect, hands down!!
why limit your self?
MkLoe
09-23-2006, 08:02 PM
I got a mini-bike that goes about 50mph need to stay away from the fuzz
Road Warrior
09-24-2006, 06:35 AM
is it worth the $120 to get a Escort Solo 2...
You mean $320 plus local taxes...
Road Warrior
09-24-2006, 06:50 AM
I need to ask;
Why does it need to be cordless?
What is this special application where you can't run it off the cars electrical system?
Corded will beat cordless in every aspect, hands down!!
why limit your self?
And I need to answer: have you ever lived in one of those "special" areas where they will SEIZE your RD if caught driving with one, have you??? Of course not, and that's why you are NOT able to understand the reason for a CORDLESS RD, the major one, cause as for minor ones you have people driving different cars, rental cars, etc.
I used to drive with an S2 for over a year, and it helped me a lot, I kept it on the dash covered always in "something"... but now I'm using the STI for the very same reason I used the S2... clear now (about why people want a cordless RD)?
Hey Road Worrior, hope you're doing well. I see that you took the plunge and got the Sti! I hope it is working well for you.
Mkloe, sorry to get off subject on you, I really have no comments on the S2 since I have never ran with one. But, Road Worrior seemed to be really happy with his so the S2 just might meet your needs. Take care.
Road Warrior
09-24-2006, 12:15 PM
Hey Road Worrior, hope you're doing well. I see that you took the plunge and got the Sti! I hope it is working well for you.
Mkloe, sorry to get off subject on you, I really have no comments on the S2 since I have never ran with one. But, Road Worrior seemed to be really happy with his so the S2 just might meet your needs. Take care.
Hi Ray, yes, everything is pretty much all right up here... thanks for asking :)
Yes, finally I took the plunge... into my bank account... :lol:
I ordered it thru Roy (thanks Roy), chosen one UPS Store in US to get it on my way to/from NYC where I went last Labor Day weekend, $5 ground shipping and $5 for the store, no tax (US or Canadian) at all, also I hardwired it at a Circuit City store in the States ($50 plus local tax), so far it's great, STI is black, with the hardwired style you cannot see anything from outside as I have very dark tinted windows (factory and legally installed by the dealer as I just bought a brand-new car), of course the windshield has no tint at all, so far works great (the STI), maybe cause it's got the latest rev A4M9... so :D with this little toy :lol:
And yes, S2 was my driving "toy" partner for over a year, no complains at all, easy to operate it, 2 batt inside, 2nd set of 2 fully charged with me all the time (and for long road trips I have a power inverter, 12V to 110V, with a multi power outlet for battery charger, cell, camcorder, etc.), this S2 alerts you for any X and K hits (mostly falses) and Ka and Laser hits (mostly real alerts), of course it's got no POP and, very important, is NOT Spectre-free!!!
So, my humble reviews (as always) as I do not work for Beltronics at all, just fair, balanced and... unafraid... :wink: so you know now what's my favorite TV channel :wink:
Take care Ray and enjoy the remaining of the Sunday and the summer...
Switchback
09-24-2006, 02:05 PM
Road warrior,
now that you have voiced you opinion about me not being in a banned area and insinuating that I just don't understand.
Mkloe answered the question, his answer was that it was for a mini-bike.
And this obviously had nothing to do with your answer.
It is exactly what I suspected with him stating he was thinking about running larger batteries to power the unit!!
maybe he thinks an RD is a police detector so he can avoid getting busted while using a non-highway vehicle on the roads.
But thank you for answering for him. NOT!!